I rarely post here. But Halloween is coming and I wanted to post pictures of our costumes. Joe decided to use his ruby red slippers to create a Dorothy AFTER Oz outfit.I wanted to be Ms Havisham from Great Expectations.

We also dress up the apartment! LOL

Where were you during the moon landing? (Assuming you were born over 45 years ago.) I was 14 years old and visiting grandparents on their farm in Arnold, Nebraska. My step dad's

niece Ginger accompanied her 6 year old daughter and me on the Union Pacific Railroad from Union Station in LA to North Platte, Ne. I spent my summer days riding combines, sitting atop barns, riding horses, watching fireflies and gazing at thunderclouds. We watched the moon landing on an old black and white Zenith Console TV in a farmhouse surrounded by corn and wheat fields. Growing up in Southern California and living in the coastal city of Long Beach, Nebraska felt as alien as the moon.

Memories

Living and Enjoying Life

Joe has continued to recover from his aneurism, and I remained busy at work. We have traveled more the last two years than the previous 24! LOL We took several out of town weekends to places like Tahoe, San Francisco, Sonora, Yosemite, Monterey and San Simeon. We added two birds two the family, and said goodbye to our 16 year old female cat Patches, who died peacefully at home. Before my birthday this month I had a small stroke. I was reading Black House on a beautiful and relaxing Sunday afternoon when the words on the page became mostly unintelligible. I had some difficulty expressing myself verbally but otherwise I felt perfectly fine. I became extremely nervous. I thought it might be serious, maybe something like a stroke. My first fear was I would lose the ability to read. I got up and tried to tell Joe, my partner of 26 years, to "get me over to...that ...place where doctors work." Very weird. Ten minutes later I was in the ER being lifted on a gurney, rushed down halls into rooms, hooked up to all sorts of wonderful equipment, seen by numerous nurses, doctors and technicians, prodded, poked and asked lots of questions. Within the next two hours I was reading and speaking normally. Crazy high blood pressure 220/180! Scary. They kept me overnight to get my BP down and to keep a good eye on me. I have some work to do, appointments to keeps, medications to begin but thanks to their prompt and competent care in the ER they let Joe bring me home the next day, with no obvious deficits that couldn't be contributed to a poor nights sleep. I will discuss things with my doctor, but I imagine it will be mostly about healthy eating, exercise, and a positive attitude. All they have told me is that it was a small stroke, a CVA and an TIA, loss of blood flow to the brain with various causes and consequences. I am waiting on other test results, though my ultra sound looked "normal". The Hospital staff were insistent about the importance of everyone/anyone getting PROMPT medical assistance immediately upon any changes and/or unusual symptoms; sudden one sided weakness or numbness, sudden trouble seeing, sudden problems speaking or understanding, sudden dizziness or loss of balance, or sudden headache with no apparent cause. I am more familiar with being the guy who visits others in the hospital. I was so unsure and embarrassed about asking for help. I felt horrible when the ER personnel rushed me past two little old ladies in the waiting room. But with a suspected stoke, time really is of the essence. We need to encourage others and ourselves to react immediately when warning signs appear. That's the rub isn't it for many of us, not wanting to make a fuss or appear dramatic or make trouble for others, or thinking "it's nothing, it will pass and I will look silly", or just plain old wet your pants in paralyzing fear. If in doubt or fear, ask for help from a medical professional.

Living and Enjoying Life!

Joe has continued to recover from his aneurism, and I remained busy at work. We have traveled more the last two years than the previous 24! LOL We took several out of town weekends to places like Tahoe, San Francisco, Sonora, Yosemite, Monterey and San Simeon. We added two birds two the family, and said goodbye to our 16 year old female cat Patches, who died peacefully at home. Before my birthday this month I had a small stroke. I was reading Black House on a beautiful and relaxing Sunday afternoon when the words on the page became mostly unintelligible. I had some difficulty expressing myself verbally but otherwise I felt perfectly fine. I became extremely nervous. I thought it might be serious, maybe something like a stroke. My first fear was I would lose the ability to read. I got up and tried to tell Joe, my partner of 26 years, to "get me over to...that ...place where doctors work." Very weird. Ten minutes later I was in the ER being lifted on a gurney, rushed down halls into rooms, hooked up to all sorts of wonderful equipment, seen by numerous nurses, doctors and technicians, prodded, poked and asked lots of questions. Within the next two hours I was reading and speaking normally. Crazy high blood pressure 220/180! Scary. They kept me overnight to get my BP down and to keep a good eye on me. I have some work to do, appointments to keeps, medications to begin but thanks to their prompt and competent care in the ER they let Joe bring me home the next day, with no obvious deficits that couldn't be contributed to a poor nights sleep. I will discuss things with my doctor, but I imagine it will be mostly about healthy eating, exercise, and a positive attitude. All they have told me is that it was a small stroke, a CVA and an TIA, loss of blood flow to the brain with various causes and consequences. I am waiting on other test results, though my ultra sound looked "normal". The Hospital staff were insistent about the importance of everyone/anyone getting PROMPT medical assistance immediately upon any changes and/or unusual symptoms; sudden one sided weakness or numbness, sudden trouble seeing, sudden problems speaking or understanding, sudden dizziness or loss of balance, or sudden headache with no apparent cause. I am more familiar with being the guy who visits others in the hospital. I was so unsure and embarrassed about asking for help. I felt horrible when the ER personnel rushed me past two little old ladies in the waiting room. But with a suspected stoke, time really is of the essence. We need to encourage others and ourselves to react immediately when warning signs appear. That's the rub isn't it for many of us, not wanting to make a fuss or appear dramatic or make trouble for others, or thinking "it's nothing, it will pass and I will look silly", or just plain old wet your pants in paralyzing fear. If in doubt or fear, ask for help from a medical professional.

Joe continues his recovery from his aneurism, and I continue busy at work. But the last two years we have traveled more that ever. Short trips to Tahoe and san Francisco, wonderful drives to Yosemite, Sonora, Monterey and San S Before my birthday this month I had a small stroke. I was reading Black House on a beautiful and relaxing Sunday afternoon when the words on the page became mostly unintelligible. I had some difficulty expressing myself verbally but otherwise I felt perfectly fine. I became extremely nervous. I thought it might be serious, maybe something like a stroke. My first fear was I would lose the ability to read. I got up and tried to tell Joe, my partner of 26 years, to "get me over to...that ...place where doctors work." Very weird. Ten minutes later I was in the ER being lifted on a gurney, rushed down halls into rooms, hooked up to all sorts of wonderful equipment, seen by numerous nurses, doctors and technicians, prodded, poked and asked lots of questions. Within the next two hours I was reading and speaking normally. Crazy high blood pressure 220/180! Scary. They kept me overnight to get my BP down and to keep a good eye on me. I have some work to do, appointments to keeps, medications to begin but thanks to their prompt and competent care in the ER they let Joe bring me home the next day, with no obvious deficits that couldn't be contributed to a poor nights sleep. I will discuss things with my doctor, but I imagine it will be mostly about healthy eating, exercise, and a positive attitude. All they have told me is that it was a small stroke, a CVA and an TIA, loss of blood flow to the brain with various causes and consequences. I am waiting on other test results, though my ultra sound looked "normal". The Hospital staff were insistent about the importance of everyone/anyone getting PROMPT medical assistance immediately upon any changes and/or unusual symptoms; sudden one sided weakness or numbness, sudden trouble seeing, sudden problems speaking or understanding, sudden dizziness or loss of balance, or sudden headache with no apparent cause. I am more familiar with being the guy who visits others in the hospital. I was so unsure and embarrassed about asking for help. I felt horrible when the ER personnel rushed me past two little old ladies in the waiting room. But with a suspected stoke, time really is of the essence. We need to encourage others and ourselves to react immediately when warning signs appear. That's the rub isn't it for many of us, not wanting to make a fuss or appear dramatic or make trouble for others, or thinking "it's nothing, it will pass and I will look silly", or just plain old wet your pants in paralyzing fear. If in doubt or fear, ask for help from a medical professional.

2012 was an interesting year.

Last August, my partner, lover, best friend and housemate suffered a bleeding brain aneurysm. I found that during this incredibly frightening and difficult situation (more life threatening than anything we have faced in our 24 years together),

I was upheld and supported by friends and family, co-workers and medical professional in ways that exceeded any expectations I might have had going into it. With all this support, encouragement and practical help, I was able to access deeply personal inner resources and trust the God of my understanding to share this journey with me, so that I was never really alone. Joe is recovering well, actually better than anyone had reason to expect. But during the initial phases of this crisis I kept my laptop with me and constantly communicated with friends updates of his condition as well as my thoughts and feelings. This is a portion of some these unedited post.

"Last Thursday night August 2nd, Joe had a headache and lost his dinner. We thought it might be a bug so he took some Ibuprofen and went to bed. Over the next few days he complained on and off that his headache was back and after a few days not going away. He tried to make an appointment to see his doctor but was told to check back to see if there might be a cancellation as they would not be able to see him this week. On Friday morning we decided to go to the Emergency Room as they headache was getting worse. By noon he was sedated and on morphine. The doctor told me they had found an aneurysm, and there was bleeding in his brain, causing the pain. At this point they decided to send him by helicopter to San Francisco California Pacific Medical Center I began at this point to try and contact family and friends via Facebook. My posts were sporadic and spontaneous from that point. Posted on 8/10 Joe was flown to Pacific Medical Center, Davies Campus via helicopter from Sutter here... got to run to SF and I need to breath before heading out, pack some things, breath, feed the cats, breath some more, I have to face traffic. Pray for him. I don't know why I am packing stuff? Guess I want him to have some clothes when he comes home. Got to go. Pray for him. Joe has an aneurysm. (FYI An aneurysm is an abnormal widening or ballooning of a portion of an artery due to weakness in the wall of the blood vessel) It’s in his brain near/above the carotid (?) artery and there was some bleeding which produced a headache, hence our trip to the emergency room this morning. He was flown to California Pacific Medical Center in SF and is now in ICU. I drove down and have been talking to his doctors, he has several, who have explained a lot of things about possible treatments. They have now decided to keep him sedated to prevent seizures and keep his blood pressure low. He is resting and being well cared for. They have told me that in the morning they will consult with more neurosurgeons and other specialists as Joe's aneurysm is unusual and not an easy repair...I won't know any more till tomorrow after they discuss his possible treatments. I may not be able to answer all the questions you might have at this point. I may drive back to Santa Rosa later tonight and return here in the morning before surgery. I am not sure what to do at this point. They are about to let me see him but he will be sedated and unaware of this, but what can one do?? I am thankful for everyone's concern and well wishes. I am just so frustrated to be so far from family.

Motels are booked, way too expensive or just plain awful...the drive home seems more attractive, no traffic this late, still haven't been able to see him...glad I over packed and brought the lap top...really strange that in crisis I pack things instead of eat compulsively as I did when I was young...guess some things change over time...it felt like 100 degrees when I left Santa Rosa, and by the time I got to the Golden Gate it was cold, foggy and I needed to use the windshield wipers...must of been 50 degree, but I packed long pants, sweaters, T shirts, extra sock and undies, shirts, etc...still waiting...Surgeon said it would have made no difference if he had been diagnosed last weekend, but he was in more danger they said immediately after the bleed than he is now...the staff here are really nice and are now OK with me OK- ing the procedures and signing papers, not being married and not having a power of attorney initially created some problems but that seems resolved...one of those things I should have taken care of years ago, I feel so irresponsible...now they are getting me tea, I brought my own Splenda. The doctors want to get his BP up as soon as possible as the bleeding already occurred and is doing damage, and the catherization failed this afternoon, so they are going to perform surgery, open up his skull and dive in, they said the risks of surgery are better than the risks of waiting at this point, and the attending said they would be better rested in the am as you observed. I really appreciate you! I am doing this one hour at a time, one step at a time...I am so sad Joe and I didn't get to talk before the sedation, but he had a seizure and they weren't waiting for me to show up...it's going to be a long journey and the surgeon kept saying there will be many potential bumps in the road the next few weeks...

8/10 2am Thank you for all the good thoughts, prayers and loving comments... I so stunned and tired and frightened and worried and thankful and frustrated...I am so supports by your posts, it really mean a great deal to know so many good people care about Joe. I need to eats something and try to get some sleep. Posted on 8/11 Joe’s love and devotion to me have made me a better person, taught me a lot, and given me much to be thankful for...he's my best friend and biggest supporter. I am waiting to talk to the doctors... 2pm The nurse just told me the surgery is competed and they are moving him to ICU...I am waiting for the doctor to come tell talk to me...I am on pins and needles, but relieved he has made it this far... When Joe wakes up he will be happy to see all the good thoughts, prayers and well wishes. He has a long road ahead if the doctor's assessment is spot on, as he keeps saying we are facing a lot of possible "bumps in the road' but he does not realized we take things "one bump at a time". It was a really long surgery, the surgeon looked beat up but they were able to clamp off the aneurysm, but they are unsure how this may affect Joe as it was part of a system of veins that were supplying blood to small area of his brain that will now be affected...he said it may have no affect at all or it may result in some paralysis...he also said that they will have to do additional test tomorrow to see if the surgery accomplished what needed to be done...but so far Joe looks better than I expected and the nurses will call if he wakes up as they now plan to reduce some of the medications so he can awaken, time will tell...he still has multiple lines, tubes, respirator, drainage, bandages, but they replace the portion of the skull back where it goes and I thought he looked wonderful. He is still under sedation and on a respirator and at risk so it'll probably a few days before he is up for visits but I'll let you know... That would be great though, I like the hospital but its so far away...took me 2 and half hours to get home, and Saturday afternoon traffic on 101 is a bitch...LOL This all happened so suddenly. Since I am assuming he will be there for some time I might be better able to do that. A friend, Ruth lives near the hospital and has offered a place to sleep over. I don't really feel alone and have some difficulty figuring out what I need at this point, (never been good at that) folks keep asking and that's a real blessing. The drive is hard on the car but so far so good, but the parking there is expensive! I don't think I need anything at the moment but am too tired to think about much beyond feeding the cats and the fish, washing the clothes, fixing a meal, making hummingbird food, watering the plants, (all the stuff Joe does! LOL) all these thing I enjoy doing. I think the really big things are going to come in the next few weeks and I can't wrap my head around that at this point.

I am perplexed about asking for help. This all happened so suddenly. I am assuming he will be there for some time, so I might be better able to do that in a few days. A friend, Ruth lives near the hospital and has offered a place to sleep over. I don't really feel alone and have some difficulty figuring out what I need at this point, (never been good at that). Folks keep asking and that's a real blessing. The drive is hard on the car but so far so good, but the parking there is expensive! I don't think I need anything at the moment but am too tired to think about much beyond feeding the cats and the fish, washing the clothes, fixing a meal, making hummingbird food, watering the plants, (all the stuff Joe does! LOL) all these thing I enjoy doing. I think the really big things are going to come in the next few weeks and I can't wrap my head around that at this point. I don't want to miss to much work but will if its something I have to do. I have vacation time and I suppose a day here and there will be sufficient. Not really worrying about anything except about Jo What an unexpected and frightening situation. I need to get some sleep. 8/12 Sunday am Joe is still being sedated, the nurse said he was getting restless and pulling at the breathing tube...probably wants a cigarette LOL...His nurses are terrific and this is just what the overnight nurse predicted and what was confirmed this am. I am not going down today, but they will call me when he opens his eyes or tries to communicate...he is in excellent hands... 10 pm Sunday Just spoken with the ICU nurse and no real changes yet, more tests tomorrow but he is still sedated and they are keeping him as comfortable as possible...when he starts rousing he gets frantic and tries to get up, I guess he is a handful at times...big guy, gentle as a lamb but in this state who knows...like I posted before, the doctors said there may be some paralysis (or not) but I think that's a good sign at least he can move himself though sedated, no seizures after the one on Friday prior to the surgery yesterday, but they have him on medications for that as well...I went to a meeting tonight and that was helpful, our old friends being real supportive and caring...I can't decide what to do beyond the next five minutes, and that will have to be OK for now."

After several weeks he was discharged from the hospital and returned home. Joe was able to complete outpatient physical and occupational therapy locally. I am thankful and joyful that Joe continues to make progress with minimal cognitive and physical deficits. The scar has healed well but the brain recovers slowly. We were able to drive back to San Francisco on New Years Eve and walked around Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39, had dinner at Sam's Crab Shack and watch the fireworks from the north end of the Golden Gate Bridge. The best New Years Eve ever!!

RANDOM CLIPPINGS from Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

STARTING IN THE MID 1940'S, AND FOR ALMOST A DECADE, GRANDMOTHER WROTE DAILY NOTES IN A LARGE OLD LEATHER BOUND MAHONEY & COMPANY LEDGER. SHE WROTE ABOUT THE THINGS SHE DID THAT DAY, THE WEATHER, PROGRESS ON THE HOUSES GRANDFATHER WAS BUILDING, HER LUNCH DATES WITH FRIENDS, SHOPPING TRIPS AND THE COMINGS AND GOINGS OF FRIENDS AND RELATIVES AND OTHER UNREMARKABLE EVENTS.SHE ALSO RECORDS THE END OF WWII, THE DEATHS OF HER MOTHER AND MOTHER IN LAW, MY PARENTS

MARRIAGE IN MEXICO, AND, HAPPILY,

MY BIRTH!

THE GROWING FAMILY ALBUM- Mahoneys in New York

Apparently the stories my Grandmother told me growing up were not meant to be taken literally. They were, I have recently discovered, more like Mahoney Family Cliff Notes, highlights of her life and times.
My understanding of family history has been expanded in ways I never expected.

Thanks to Cousins Katie, Art and Diane I am now in possession of a picture that is wider, with clearer details and deeper color than ever before.

In County Cork, in the early 1800's Michael Mahoney and Helen Collins were born and eventually married. They sailed to America, where they raised eight children. Patrick, Timothy, John Patrick, Mary, Margaret, Katheryn, William and Lucretia.

Patrick was my Great Great Grandfather. His son Benjamin Sr. was my Grandfather, Harold's father.

Patrick married Helen Reichard (Rickard), in 1857 in Van Buren, New York. Their children were Benjamin (Sr.), George, Edward, Flora, Ella William, Harry and Robert Emmet (Katie's Great Grandfather)

Not only did I not realize there were so many siblings, but I had confused Benjamin Sr. with Benjamin Jr. my grandfathers brother.

Benjamin and Jennie Squires (whom we called Mother Mahoney) married in 1833 in Pennsylvania and they had Harold (my Grandfather), Ivan, and Benjamin Jr. These are the family members I grew up hearing stories about.

I was reading a journal my Grandmother left where she wrote about daily events and family happenings. She also kept newpapr clippings and other sundries.

I found items about Ivan and his family, her brother Carl's' service during the war and his early days with Pan American Airways, Mother ( Jennie) Mahoney's life in Beverly Hills, her failing health and decline, ( after her death, several newspaper articles about her return and services in Wilke-Barre, Pa.), business concerns with Benjamin and Harold, marriage notices about Ivan's daughters., and other items like those.

I have found it strange that all this new information has affected me so deeply. Certainly my knowledge was incomplete. Having more information about these people has shuffled my thinking. However, I can't ignore that the manner in which I have discovered these new family connections comes not from some genealogical data bank, but from real living breathing
people to whom I am related, is overwhelming to me.

My immediate family was caring and loving. I am so grateful for the memories I have of my Grandfather and Grandmother and Aunt Ruth. My Dad John, and his sister Ellen Jane, were special and always did their best to make my time with them happy and interesting. My Mother Phyllis and Step-Dad Johnny, were amazing. My brother Jay and his family are warm and smart and wonderful. But having said that, I must confess we were somewhat disconnected from other relatives. I can't recall meeting uncles and aunts, cousins and in-laws. So what an amazing gift to meet Katie and Art and Diane.